Odds and Bets: Canada kicks off Women’s World Cup

Today’s Sports Betting Picks – Thursday, July 20, 2023

Orioles at Rays: Battle for the AL East

For the first time since March 31, there is a new face sitting alone atop the AL East division. Baltimore’s win on Wednesday leapfrogged the Orioles over the Rays to take sole possession of the division, making this weekend’s four-game set in Tampa Bay a massive series.

This is also a milestone moment in Baltimore as it is the first time since 2016 (the last time they made the playoffs) the O’s held first place in the AL East in the second half of the season.

Baltimore has been hot this month, going 10-5 in July. They enter Thursday with wins in eight of their last 10 games and they haven’t been swept in any series this year.

The Rays have looked like a shell of the team that began the year with one of the best starts in major league history. Tampa Bay blew a 6.5-game lead atop the division at the start of July, dropping 11 of 14 games so far this month. They come into Thursday riding a four-game losing streak.

Game 1 of the series goes Thursday night, with Kyle Gibson expected to start on the mound for Baltimore and Tyler Glasnow getting the ball for the Rays.

Gibson is 9-6 with a 4.77 ERA this season. He went 5.1 innings in his last start on July 15, giving up nine hits and five earned runs with one strikeout and two walks.

Glasnow has a 3-3 record with a 3.78 ERA in Tampa Bay this year. He earned the win in his last start on July 15, pitching six innings while giving up six hits and one earned run with seven strikeouts and two walks.

MLB best bet: Baltimore wins series (+361)

Elks at Blue Bombers: Elks eye first win

At 0-6, the Edmonton Elks remain the lone winless team in the CFL and things won’t get easier when they hit the road to face the 4-2 Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

This is the first time the Elks have started the year 0-6 since their inaugural season in 1938 when they finished 0-8. Edmonton’s loss against the Ti-Cats last week was their 20th straight home defeat dating to October 2019.

Elks quarterback Taylor Cornelius has struggled with consistency all year and was once again benched against Hamilton last week. Cornelius completed 11 of 20 pass attempts for 165 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Jarrett Doege replaced Cornelius in the second half, going 14-of-20 for 201 yards and a touchdown.

Edmonton is sticking with Cornelius as their Week 7 starter, but he will likely have a very short leash. In five games this year, Cornelius has thrown for 880 total yards with an ugly 3-5 TD-INT ratio. Doege has played three games, amassing 587 total yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions.

This will also be an interesting week for Winnipeg. After last week’s shocking overtime loss to a weak Ottawa Redblacks team, is there a blueprint to beat the Bombers or will it be a wakeup call that leads them to crush Edmonton?

Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros was sacked three times last week, but still managed to complete 22 of 32 pass attempts for 369 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Collaros leads the CFL in passing yards (1,615), touchdowns (11), quarterback rating (112.7) and his 116 completions trails only B.C.’s Vernon Adams Jr. (118).

CFL best bet: Zach Collaros Over 259.5 total passing yards (-120)

Nigeria at Canada: Down to business Down Under

Canada sits as heavy favourites in their opening World Cup match against Nigeria. This is a big opportunity to start strong for the Canadians as Group B has already been labeled the ‘Group of Death’.

Canada, the No. 7 ranked team in the World, last played in a closed-door match against England on July 14, drawing 0-0. The Canadians come into this tournament with a lot of confidence after winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics two years ago, although they have never finished better than fourth at the World Cup.

It hasn’t exactly been a dominant 2023 for Canada, as the squad is just 1-3, scoring three goals and allowing six. This tournament is a chance, however, for new faces to emerge and lead the team. With Christine Sinclair turning 40 last month and Janine Beckie unavailable due to a torn ACL, it will be up to younger stars like Jordyn Huitema, Evelyne Viens and new goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan to step up.

The Nigerians are sizeable underdogs as the 40th ranked nation in the world. Barcelona striker Asisat Oshoala will be the key piece of this squad. The 28-year-old has 83 goals in 89 appearances since joining Barca in 2019, winning two UEFA Champions League title in the process.

Canada and Nigeria faced each other twice last year. The Canadians won one game 2-0, while the second game was a 2-2 draw.

Women’s World Cup best bet: Canada outright match winner (-263)